Apparatus for making sewing implements



June 2, 1964 Filed Aug. 8, 1960 J. D. GAT

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEWING IMPLEMENTS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR June 2, 1964 v J. D. GAT 3,135,301

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEWING IMPLEMENTS Filed Aug. 8, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INI/E/VTUR June 2, 1964 J. D. GAT 3,135,301

. APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEWING IMPLEMENTS Filed Aug. 8, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIVVE/VTOR June 2, 1964 J. D. GAT 3,135,301

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEWING IMPLEMENTS Filed Aug. 8, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR June 2, 1964 J. D. GAT 3,135,301

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEWING IMPLEMENTS Filed Aug. 8, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Patented June 2, 1964 3,135,301 APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEWMG I IRWLEMENTS Johnl). Gat, 138 Hawthorn St, Edgewood, Pa. Filed Aug. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 48,262 3 Claims. v(6i. 140-149) This invention relates to an apparatus for making sewing implements provided with a flexible member for the retention of the sewing thread and, particularly, for making sewing implements having a flexible member automatically retaining the thread in position.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will be fully apparent from the following detailed disclosure and appended claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals indicate identical parts in the several views, and in which FIGURE 1 depicts top elevation of the device;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross section of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross section of the device viewed at a 90 degree angle in respect to the cross section given inFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 presents detail of spreader insertion and spreader retraction means;

FIGURE 5 gives a top elevation of the cam activating the gripping means;

' with guide of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 exemplifies the sewing implement contemplated in the present invention.

'In FIGURE 1 numeral 12 represents base plate provided with longitudinal slot 13 and opening 14. Plate 12 supports over opening 14 orientation means shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 6, guiding funnel 1, pedestal 4, solenoid 5 and solenoid core thereof being shown in the drawing. Said orientation means are placed over opening 14 in the manner that the axis of pipe 3 is located in'the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of slot 13 and at a right angle to slot 9. On both sides of opening 14 are rigidly secured guides 15 and 17, shown in detail in FIGURE 7, provided with a longitudinal groove 18 placed directly above and along slot 13 coaxially with the oriented eye of the needle. Groove 18 has a cross section having the shape of an equilateral triangle or a semicircle with an area permitting the insertion therein of the cross section of the wire to be used without an excessive clearance. Between guide 17 and base plate 12 is slidably mounted slide 19 forming the bottom of groove 18 when in the inserted position. Slide 19 is positively operated by cam 43 through operating arm 23 supported in bearing 22, cam 43 engaging end 24 of arm 23. Slide 19 is brought in its inserted position by the pressure of springs resting against abutments 21. The end of slide 19 opposite to the orientation means carries cutting blade 25 which cooperates with guide block 26 perforated inv the horizontal direction with a cylindrical opening 27 having a diameter permitting a free passage of wire to be used without excessive clearance and oriented substantially coaxially with groove 18. Wire W is fed by passing between feed/rolls 28 and 29 supported in bearings 30.

dal

Roll 23 is rotated by segmental gear 40 through pinion 32 mounted on roll shaft extension 31. Wire W is supplied from feed coil 33 held in bearings 34. Rectangular stationary block 16 replaces slide 19 in guide 15. Block 16 is inserted between guide 15 and base plate 12 parallel to groove 18 until its inner edge is in line with the edge of groove 18 and rigidly secured in this position. Motor 35 operating the device of the present invention is connected through speed reducer 36 and clutch 37, preferably of a magnetic type, with shaft 38 supported in bearings 39 and carryingsegmental miter gear 40, miter gear 42 driving the twisting means, cam 43 and spur gear 44. Spur gear 44 engages gear 45 secured on shaft 46 supported by bearings 47. On shaft 46 are rigidly mounted bending blades 48.

Needle orientation means, FIGURES 2, 3 and 6, comprise vertically disposed guiding funnel 1, slightly tapering funnel 2, and cylindrical pipe-like body 3 supported by pedestal 4 cooperating with slide S. An opening provided in the wall of funnel 2 allows for the passage in a radial direction of plunger acting as core 5 of solenoid 6. Slide S, located under pipe 3, comprises plate 7 made of an electrically non conductive substance and provided with a longitudinal slot 9 supported by a solid electrically conductive insulated plate 8 movable in the horizontal direction by plunger 11 activated by solenoid 10. The thickness of insulating plate 7 is somewhat less than the length of the flattened portion of needle N containing the eye thereof, and the width of slot 9 in plate 7 is suflicient to permit the passage of the flattened portion of the needle only when the sides thereof are substantially parallel to the sides of slot 9. Pipe 3 and conductive plate 8 are made terminals of an electric circuit and provided with proper outlets therefor. Electrically conductive needle N unavoidably contacting pipe 3 closes this circuit on touching plate 8. The closure of the circuit activates, either directly or through any conventional supplementary amplifying circuit, solenoid 6, solenoid 10 and motor 35. Motor 35 preferably running continuously, is brought into play by connecting with shaft 38 through the intermediacy t of clutch 37, preferably of a magnetic type.

v other under guide 17. a

Wire-gripping means, FIGURES 2, 3 and 8, comprise jaws 5t) and 51 mounted oppositely on bent levers 58, said levers being pivoted respectively on fulcrums 59 and cooperating with levers 61 pivoted respectively on fulcrums 6t). Fulcrums 59 and 6d are mounted on the inner surface of hollow cylinder 63. Springs 62 urge levers 58 and 61 in a position corresponding to the full opening of jaws 5t and 51. law 50 consists of a properly supported substantially horizontal hardened-steel cutting plate 52 provided with a V-notch 57 in the portion thereof opposite to the point of support and an elastic body 54 parallel to cutting plate 52 spaced at a distance from the former and properly supported. The surface of elastic body 54 facing jaw 51 extends slightly beyond the apex of V-notch of plate 52. Jaw 51 consists of a properly supported substantially horizontal hardened steel cutting plate 53 provided with a V-notch 57 in the portion thereof opposite to the point of support and an elastic body 55 directly underlying cutting plate 53. The surface of elastic body 55 facing jaw 50 extends slightly beyond the apex of V-notch of plate 53. The spacing of jaws 50 and 51 on levers 58 is selected to cause, on closing of said jaws, the facing surfaces of elastic bodies 54 and 55 to come in contact all over their area and to cause cutting plate 53 to enter space 56 between the cutting plate 52 and elastic body 54 while in close contact with cutting plate 52.

The end of the long arm of levers 61 contacts the inner surface of internal cam 68, FIGURES 2 and 5. Said cam, which is raised gradually in operation, consists of a hollow cylinder, the inner surface of which presents a combination of spiral plane 74, cylindrical plane 75, and spiral 76 plane following each other in vertical direction, While in a plan, FIGURE 5, the configuration of cam 68 can be presented as the upper surface thereof 72, ledge 73 corresponding to the upper spiral section, and ledge 71 corresponding to the lower spiral section. On first contact with cam 68, the end of the long arm of levers 61 rests against the widest portion of the upper spiral section which extends preferably over about one quarter of cylinder 63 revolution and has a curvature causing one quarter revolution of cylinder 63 to close jaws 50 and 51, until elastic bodies 54 and 55 are in firm contact under pressure. This pressure is maintained by the ends of levers 61 resting against the cylindrical section of the surface of cam 68. When the ends of levers 61 reach the lower spiral surface of cam 68, preferably extending over one quarterof one revolution of cylinder 63 and having an appropriate curvature, the pressure exerted on jaws 50 and 51 becomes sufficient to overcome the resilience of elastic bodies 54 and 55 causing cutting plates 52 and 53 to shear wires present in the apices of their Vs.

Cam 68, which slides freely on rod 69 and threaded lower portion of shaft 77, is moved upwardly in the vertical direction proportionally to the angular rotation of cylinder 63 through shaft 77. Shaft 77 is supported at its upper end by a bearing 79 provided in plate 12 and at its lower end by hearing 78 on foundation plate 70 and is rotated by bevel gear 42 and pinion 86. Rod 69 and threaded portion of shaft 77 pass through corresponding cylindrical openings in cam 68. The upward motion of cam 68 is terminated when t e ends of long arms of levers 61 are brought into closest proximity by the lower spiral surface 76 of cam 68. At this point detent 84 disengages pawl 83, and cam 68 slides down over rods 69 and shaft 77 under force of gravity. Rest 85 re-engages pawl 83 with the threaded end of shaft 77 at the bottom of cam 68 travel, through lever 80.

Ring 87 freely supported on the inner upper peripheral edge of the cover of cylinder 63, FIGURES 2 and 8, carries bearing 88, through which slidably moves in the radial direction member 89 integrally joined at its end to spreader 90 used for forming the threading loop in the twisted wire. In the vertical plane passing through its longitudinal axis spreader 90 has a rectangular cross section; in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis it has a cross section having the outlines of the inside of the loop to be formed; the horizontal plane cross section of the spreader 90 is a rectangle tapering to a point 91 at the end thereof opposite to bearing 88. The length of member 89 is selected to place the working cross section of spreader 90, when member 89 is in the innermost position thereof, in the center of cylinder 63, while in the outward position of member 89 spreader 90 is removed from the loop formed.

On the terminal of member 89 opposite to spreader 90 is firmly secured contact 92.

Spreader 90 is inserted between the wires at the point when the ends of vees of cutting plates 52 and 53 of jaws 50 and 51 are just brought together to confine the space between them. The insertion is achieved, FIGURE 4, by the release of stationarily mounted spring 114 cocked and released by pin 115 appropriately disposed on the cover of cylinder 63, said spring urging, on the release thereof, through contact 92 and member 89 spreader 90 into the 4 innermost position thereof. This effect is repeated on each revolution of cylinder 63.

Rotation of wires held in jaws 50 and 51 causes spreader and ring 87 to rotate parallel to the twisting of the wires assuring the formation of the required number of wire twists above and below the loop without any interference caused by spreader 90.

Means for the retraction of spreader 90 from the loop after the impartation of the desired number of twists to the wires and before opening jaws 50 and 51 are shown in FIGURES 2, 5, 9, 10 and 11. Said means comprise curved member 93 formed by a spirally bent rigid band mounted on shaft provided with a downward extension thereof 96. The band of curved member 93 is provided close to shaft 95 with an indentation 94 of a sufficient depth to clear, in the lowermost position of member 93, contact 92. Shaft 95 is supported by arm 113 of slide 102 and carries solidly secured thereon gear 97, said gear forming the ultimate member of a gear train originating with gear 99 slida'bly mounted on and rotated by shaft 77. Rotation of gear 99 is effected by the engagement of key-like projection 112 of said gear with the longitudinal groove 110 provided in shaft 77.

Spring 111 resting against collar 100 urges slide 102 upwards. The downward motion of said slide is provided by the rotation of shaft 77 through the engagements of the threading thereof with pin 104 integral with slide 102. Threading on shaft 77 has a number of turns corresponding to the desired number of revolutions of cylinder 63. These turns 103, with the exception of the penultimate one, have preferably a narrow pitch, while the penultimate turn 107 has a wide pitch causing a sudden lowering of slide 102 in the course of the penultimate revolution.

The engagement of threading of shaft 77 with slide 102 is effected by pin 104 placed in cavity 101. Spring abutting the bottom of said cavity and pressing on shoulder of pin 104 urges pin 104 outwardly. The outer end of pin 104, shaped as shown in FIGURE 12, rests against guide 106 placed at a sufficient distance from slide 102 to cause compression of spring 105 adequate for engaging the inner end of pin 104 with threading 103 and 107. Rotation of shaft 77 causes a downward motion of slide 102. When the lowest desired level of descent is reached, the outer end of pin 104 is brought opposite to the opening 108 in guide 106. The pressure of spring 105 unopposed by guide 106 forces the outer end of pin 104 through opening 108 simultaneously disengaging the inner end of pin 104 from the threading 103 thus releasing slide 102 and allowing spring 111 to lift slide 102. The outer end of pin 104 follows slide 102 moving between guide 106 and reflector 109. Reflector 109 finally ejects the outer end of pin 104 through opening 108 in the guide 106. In the ejected position the cambered portion of the outer end of pin 104 rests against the top edge of guide 106, while the curved portion of reflector 109 urges, under the pressure of spring 111, pin 104 inwardly causing the inner endof said pin to re-engage, at least partially, threading 103. On further rotation of shaft 77 the camber of the outer end of pin 104 moving over the edge of guide 106 causes an inward motion of pin 104 until full contact of the inner end of pin 104 and threading 103 is established and maintained over the length of guide 106. Guide 106 and reflector 109 are mounted on a stationary support. The ratio of gears forming the gear train rotating shaft 95 of curved member 93 is preferably selected to cause four revolutions of curved member 93 for one revolution of cylinder 93.

Cylinder 63 is placed in housing 65 having an inner diameter somewhat larger than the outer diameter of gear 64. Cylinder 63 is positioned in housing 65 through the provision of spacers between cylinder 63 and housing 65. As such spacers can be used, for example, rigid balls 66 having a suitable diameter. A portion of housing 65 26, guide 17, and needle eye.

is removed exposing a section of gear 64 where said gear engages driving pinion 82.

At a level below that occupied by the bottom of cam 68 when said cam is in the uppermost position thereof is placed resilient contact 116 of an electric circuit mounted on an electrically non-conductive support 117. Contact 116 forms an electrical connection with cam 68 when the latter passes through the horizontal plane of said contact. The electrical circuit involved is closed by resilient contact 118 disposed in a horizontal plane at a distance from the horizontal plane of contact 116 which is inferior to the height of cam 68. Contact 118 is mountedon cylindrical shell 119 supported by vertical pin 121, said shell being urged by spring 124 acting on pin 123 to rotate in the direction causing contact 116 to rest against cam 68, said contact, shell and pin being electrically connected with the said circuit. Pin 121, shell 119 and spring 124 are electrically insulated from bottom plate 70. In the downward motion of cam 68 the circuit is closed through contacts 116 and 118 over the distance of cam travel equal to the difference between the height of cam 68 and the vertical distance between contacts 116 and 118.

Electrically non-conducting pin 122 integral with cam 68 engages groove 120 in shell 119. On the upward motion of cam 68 pin 122 turns shell 119 in the direction opposite to that exerted by spring 124 breaking the connection of contact 118 with the surface of cam 68 up to the point when cam 68 clears contact 116 and then restoring the connection. Electric circuit through contacts 116 and 118 is closed momentarily during the passage of cam 68 between said contacts energizing solenoid 5, magnetic clutch 37 and a delay switch which activates solenoid 16.

The ratios of gear 42, gear 86, pinion 82 and gear 64 are selected preferably to complete the sewing implement making cycle in one revolution of shaft 38.

Opening 125 in the bottom plate 70 serves for discharging of the completed sewing implements and of the scrap ends of the Wire cut by cutting plates 52 and 53.

In operation, a needle N provided with an eye in the flattened end thereof is inserted-eye down while slowly rotating around its long'axis in funnel 1, which leads it to cylindrical pipe 3 from which it passes to rest on slide S. The needle N remains on the surface of plate 7 until the rotation brings flattened sides thereof parallel to the sides of slot 9 permitting the end 'of the needle to enter slot 9 and reach conductive plate 8 thus closing the electric circuit. This circuit activates, either directly or through controlling another conventional circuit, solenoid 6 causing plunger to press on needle N retaining it in the ori ented position, solenoid 10 which pulls slide S from under the needle until electric circuit is broken and properly oriented eye of the needle is exposed, and sets shaft 38 rotating preferably by energizing magnetic clutch 37.

Rotation of shaft 38 engages segmental gear 40 with pinion 32 of roll 28 causing wire W fedfrom coil 33 and held between roll 28 and roll 29 to advance through block. Angular velocity of shaft 38, diameters of segmental gear 40, pinion 32 and roll 28 are selected in a manner that the length of wire W advanced during the contact of segmental gear 40 and pinion 32 is substantially equal to the length required for forming and closing the loop and for the necessary discard. At the moment when the engagement of gear 41) and pinion 33 is terminated and the motion of wide W stops, cam 43 mounted on shaft 38 moves slide 19 thus opening guide 17 and cutting wire W with knife 25. Cam 43 holds guide 17 open until wire W is removed therefrom, after which springs 28 restore slide 19 in its original position.

Blades 48 rotated by shaft 38 through gears 44 and 45 and shaft 46 bend the wire threaded through the eye downwards causing both halves thereof to pass from guides and 17 through guides 49 into the gap between jaws 50 and 51 brought in appropriate position by the rotation of cylinder 63. Diameters of gear 42, gear 86,

pinion 82 andgear 64 are selected to bring jaws 50 and 51 in proper position at this moment while the threading of the lower portion of shaft 77 is chosen to cause cam 68, which has begun the upward motion simultaneously with the start of shaft 38 revolution, to contact with its upper spiral surface 74 at its maximum width the ends of levers 61. Substantially one quarter of cylinder 63 revolution brings jaws 50 and 51 together, locating the wires at the apices of the VS and firmly holding them by elastic bodies 54 and 55. During this one quarter of revolution, pin carried by cylinder 63 releases cocked spring 114 which pushes spreader 9%) between the two wires. Rotation of jaws 5t and 51 twists the wires, and, since spreader 90 is free to rotate with the wires, the twisting above and below the spreader 90 is unimpeded. During this period of operation the pressure on jaws 50 and 51 continues until the desired number of twists is intparted tothe wires. At this point rotating curved member 93, which was descending during the rotation of shaft 77, engages contact 92 of spreader 9t and pulls spreader 98 from the formed loop, gradually bringing contact 92 to the axis of rotation of the curved member 93 when the engagement is broken by gap 94 provided in the lower portion of the band forming curved member 93 and spring 114 is retained in cocked state by the prolongation 96 of shaft 95. In this manner spreader 91] is removed from the loop and is positioned for the next insertion between the wires. 1

During the next revolution of cylinder 63, which is the last of a given threading cycle, additional pressure is, applied to jaws 50 and 51 by the lower spiral surface 76 of cam 68 acting through levers 61, this pressure being sufficiently high to compress elastic bodies 55 and 56 and to shear the wires between cutting plates 52 and 53. At this point the upward motion of cam 68 causes detent 84 to release pawl 83 engaging cam 68 with rotating threaded shaft 77 thus causing cam 68 to slide downwards. The downward motion of cam 68 frees lever arms 61 allowing spring 62. to open widely jaws 50 and 51 providing space for, the downward fall of the completed sewing implement when released by plunger 5. The ratios of gear 42, gear 86, pinion 82 and gear 64 are selected to produce the desired number of cylinder 63 revolution, accounting for the idle revolutions at the beginning of the cycle and for the last revolution following the completion of the twisting operations in one revolution of shaft 38.

On passing downwards between contacts 118 and 117 cam 68 closes momentarily the electric circuit which, either directly or through an intermediate conventional circuit, sends an electric impulse into solenoid 6 in the direction and of magnitude suflicient for releasing pressure of plunger 5 on needle N. Said circuit simultaneously de-energizes magnetic clutch 37 disengaging shaft 38 and, preferably, applying a breaking action to said shaft. At the same time the circuit activates a delay switch through which current is applied to solenoid 10 to restore slide S to the original position thereof after the completed sewing implement released by plunger 5 has had time to fall from the device through opening 125 in the bottom plate 70. The closing of said circuit on the upward motion of cam 68 has been prevented by deflecting contact118 from the surface of cam 68 by spring 124 in cooperation with groove in cylindrical shell 119 and pin 122. I

On reaching its lowermost position cam 68 causes detent 84 to re-engage pawl 83 with the threading of shaft 77. At this point the device is set for the next manufacturing cycle. 7

Angular position of segmental gear 40 and cam 43 on shaft 38 and angular position of bending blades 48 on shaft 46 are so selected, and the ratios of gear 44, and gear 45 of gear 42, gear 86, pinion 82 and gear 64 are so chosen that the manufacturing cycle is completed in one revolution of shaft 38.

The present invention is primarily intended for fabricating articles exemplified by FIGURE 13 of the drawings and described and claimed in the United States Patent No. 2,715,486 and modifications thereof, but not limited thereto.

While I have described one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be expressly understood that various modifications may be made in constructing the device of my invention with the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

, 1. Apparatus for forming a threading implement on a sewing needle comprising, means for supporting a needle in a predetermined position, and sequentially operable means including means for feeding a wire from a wire supply along a rectilinear path extending through the eye of said needle. and severing said length of wire from said wire supply while its central portion is disposed in the eye of said needle and its end portions extend in opposite directions from said needle, means for bending said severed wire to a U-shape with the bight thereof positioned in said needle eye and with said end portions extending axially outwardly with respect to said needle, a loop forming element and means for inserting it between said end portions at a point spaced from said bight and from the terminal ends thereof, means for clamping said terminal ends together, means for rotating said clamping means and said loop forming means relative to said needle to twist said end portions about each other at spaced points respectively adjacent said needle eye and the terminals of said end portions and to form an elongated thread engaging loop therebetween, and means for withdrawing said loop forming element from its inserted position and for disengaging said wire clamping means. 4

2. Apparatus for forming a threading implement on a sewing needle comprising, means for supporting a needle in a predetermined position, and sequentially operable means including means for feeding a wire from a wire supply along a rectilinear path extending through the eye of said needle and severing said length of wire from said wire supply While its central portion is disposed in the eye of said needle and its end portions extend in opposite directions from said needle, means for bending said severed wire to a U-shape with the bight thereof positioned in said needle eye and with said end portions extending axially outwardly with respect to said needle, a loop forming element mounted for movement to and from an operative position in which it is disposed between said end portions, said elernent having a size such that when it is in its said operative position it is spaced from said bight and the terminals of said end portions, means for moving said element to its said operative position, a pair of clamping elements mounted for movement to and from an operative position in clamping engagement with said end portion terminals, a first actuating means for moving said clamping elements to said operative clamping position, means for rotating said clamping means and said loop forming means relative to said needle to twist said end portions about each other at spaced points respectively adjacent said needle eye and the terminals of said end portions and to form an elongated thread engaging loop therebetween, means for moving said loop forming element out of its said operative position to withdraw it from the space between the twists formed in said end portions, and a second actuating means for moving said clamping elements out of said operating position to release their clamping engagement with said end portion terminals.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 characterized by said loop forming element having an elongated elliptical shape in a plane containing the wire end portions on opposite sides thereof and being effective during operation of said rotating means to shape the said wire end portions on opposite sides thereof into an elongated flexible loop extending between the twists therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. APPARATUS FOR FORMING A THREADING IMPLEMENT ON A SEWING NEEDLE COMPRISING, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A NEEDLE IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION, AND SEQUENTIALLY OPERABLE MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR FEEDING A WIRE FROM A WIRE SUPPLY ALONG A RECTILINEAR PATH EXTENDING THROUGH THE EYE OF SAID NEEDLE AND SEVERING SAID LENGTH OF WIRE FROM SAID WIRE SUPPLY WHILE ITS CENTRAL PORTION IS DISPOSED IN THE EYE OF SAID NEEDLE AND ITS END PORTIONS EXTEND IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM SAID NEEDLE, MEANS FOR BENDING SAID SEVERED WIRE TO A U-SHAPE WITH THE BIGHT THEREOF POSITIONED IN SAID NEEDLE EYE AND WITH SAID END PORTIONS EXTENDING AXIALLY OUTWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID NEEDLE, A LOOP FORMING ELEMENT AND MEANS FOR INSERTING IT BETWEEN SAID END PORTIONS AT A POINT SPACED FROM SAID BIGHT AND FROM THE TERMINAL ENDS THEREOF, MEANS FOR CLAMPING SAID TERMINAL ENDS TOGETHER, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CLAMPING MEANS AND SAID LOOP FORMING MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID NEEDLE TO TWIST SAID END PORTIONS ABOUT EACH OTHER AT SPACED POINTS RESPECTIVELY ADJACENT SAID NEEDLE EYE AND THE TERMINALS OF SAID END PORTIONS AND TO FORM AN ELONGATED THREAD ENGAGING LOOP THEREBETWEEN, AND MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING SAID LOOP FORMING ELEMENT FROM ITS INSERTED POSITION AND FOR DISENGAGING SAID WIRE CLAMPING MEANS. 